Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1408, Nathaniel French, Continental (Mass.)

SERVICE
NUMBER
French, Nathaniel Joanna
W. 1408
CONTENTS

Dec 20. 29, 1834 (93)
9083
Massachusetts
Nathaniel French 2 a
of Canton in the state of Massachus'tts who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Crane of the Mass: line, for the term of 1 yr 9 mo,
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts, at the rate of 8 - Dollars per month, to commence on the 3 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 of April 1819 and sent to Judge Ware at Wrentham, Norfolk Co. Mass:
Arrears to 4th of March 1819. 10 mo, \frac{28 \frac{1}{2}}{30 \cdot 31} . 88.49
Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sep r 1819. 48 -
136.49
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Discontinue

140.
Massachusetts Joanna French widow of Nathaniel
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Matross
Mass Army
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 100 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the // day of Ap r , 1849 and sent to
Commodore Joseph Smith Present
Reprinted Ap r 11/19.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2 1848, Page 57 Vol. 1
29 July.
Book D

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Norfolk, and Town of Canton, ss. "Marriages. 1795. Nathaniel French of Boston and Joanna Downs." Aug. 27."
I hereby certify, that the above is a true copy of the Record of Marriages, as kept by the Rev. Zachariah Howard, which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures, in the manner of usual Record with him, not expressing the place of residence of the party belonging to the Town of Canton of which he was then the Minister, and is as follows, August 27th, Twenty seventh, 1795. Seventeen, Hundred and Ninety Five "Nathaniel French of Boston and Joanna Downs." I, Benjamin Huntress, Minister of the Gospel in the Town of Canton, depose and say, that I held the office of Minister of the Gospel, in the Town, County and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of the Marriages of said Town as kept by the above named, Rev. Zachariah Howard, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Benjamin Huntress, Minister of the Gospel of Canton
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Norfolk, ss. April 6th, 1849. There personally appeared, the said Benjamin Huntress, and made oath that the above certificate is true.
Before me Thomas Frenette Justice of the Peace.

I Nathaniel French of Canton in the County of Norfolk and Common- wealth of Massachusetts a Citizen of the United States on oath declare that I served in the war of the revolution against the common enemy and in the Massa- chusetts line in the month of March 1781 I enlisted under Capt. Henry Burbeck in Col John Crane's Regiment of Artillery and served in said Regiment untill the 31 st day of December 1783 as by my discharge will appear up a copy of which is here under written I am out of health and my circumstances as to property is such that I stand in need of support from my country
By the Honorable Major General Knox Commanding the Artillerian Forces on Hudson River Nathaniel French a Native in the Massachusetts Artillery Regiment being enlisted for Three years, is hereby honor- ably Discharged from the service of the United States Given in the State of New York the thirty first Day of December 1783. By the Generals Orders Command, Knox Major Genl Registered in the Books of the Regiment Sam l Cooper Adjt
Wortham April 3-1812
Nathaniel French

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Norfolk ss.
On this 3 d day of April A D 1818 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Com: Plea for the S th Circuit, personally appeared Nathaniel French aforesaid resident in the said Circuit and on his oath made the foregoing declaration by him signed in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the U. States in the revolutionary War, And I do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Nathaniel French did serve in the revolutionary War as stated in his 1 st declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months on the continental establishment. And I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken & had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War (and also his original Discharge pursuant to the directions of the act of Congress before mentioned).
Nathaniel French
Gairus Wade. Associate Judge of the Circuit Court. Com: Plea for Southern Circuit.

Schedule No of Nathl. Forest
Sept 19
W. Bailey Department of State Washington, D.C.

District of Massachusetts, ss.
County of Norfolk ss.
ON this thirtieth day of April 1823 personally appeared, in open Court, being a Court of Record, viz. Nathaniel French, known to me by the name of Nathaniel French aged sixty two years, resident in Canton in the County of Norfolk in said District, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows:
make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the acts of Congress, of the 18th of March 1828, and the 1st May 1820. That the said Nathaniel French enlisted and served in Captain Burbank's company in the month of March 1781, in Col. John Dames's Regt. of Artillery, and there served until December 1783 when my discharge in Secretary's Office will show. My Certificate is dated April the third 1818. No 9083. This service was performed in the line of the State of Massachusetts and the Continental establishment and he was discharged at West point in the State of New York, that his name has been placed on the pension list and defined therefrom an account of his property.
And in pursuance of the act of the first May 1820 And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, hereto annexed, and by me subscribed. That since the abolition of my first schedule the changes stated on the next page have been made in my property. Nathaniel French.
Sworn to and declared, on the thirtieth day of April A. D. 1823 before the Court.
Ebenezer D. Fisher Jr. Clerk pro tem
J. Horatio Townsend Clerk of the said Court
do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule hereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is forty six dollars and fifty cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this tenth day of May 1823.
Horatio Townsend Clerk

A schedule of the property of Nathaniel French the afore-mentioned Applicant, necessary wearing apparel, beds & bedding excepted.
  Six acres of sandy land with a small cabin and barn, very old 150.   1 acre of brush land 20.   2 1/2 acres of poor land lately purchased 20.   Two cows at 10 Dollars each 20.   2 Chests 2.   12 Old chairs 1.50   Crockery ware 1.00   Iron ware 3.00   Farming utensils 3.00   Undivided half share in meeting house 100.00   $246.50 
I also at this time owe the following debts
  To Daniel Tucker $12.00 and int.   " Simeon Tucker 59.00 Do   James Dumbas 143.00   Joseph Downs 40.00   George Downs about 50.   $354.00 
My family is as follows - My wife aged 53 years My Daughter Joanna French 16 years Twin Children Eliza French } 14 years Harriet French }
I am also very much out of health and infirm as will appear by the Certificate of Doctor Stone herunto annexed.
Nathaniel French.
Property exhibited in first schedule
  6 acres of land with small house & barn $150.00   10 acres of brush pasture 50.00 
Sold to Eliza White for 150 Dollars & money expended to pay Joseph Downs & James Dumbas in part of what I owed them.
  4 acres of brush land 20.00   2 Cows, stated at 30 Dollars now worth 20.00   2 Chests 2.00   12 Chairs 1.50   Crockery ware. 1.00   Iron ware 3.00   Farming utensils 3.00   $250.50 
The above sale of land was made to Mr Eliza White in the month of January 1823 and appropriated as above stated for the payment of Debts.
Nathaniel French.

This certifies that Mr Nathaniel French has been very infirm for a number of years and totally unable to perform any hard labour, and is at times partially insane
Jonathan Stone Physician Canterbury April 28 th 1823.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County ss
On this fourteenth day of October 1848 personally appeared before the Honorable Sherman Leland Judge of the Court of Probate then in open Session Joanna French a resident of Canton in the county of Norfolk aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn doth on her oath make the following Declaration; in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 29. 1848 entitled "An Act for the Relief of certain surviving widows of Officers and Soldiers of the Revolutionary Army" that she is the widow of Nathaniel French, who was a private in the War of the Revolution and served as set forth in his Declaration to obtain a Pension under the Act of 18 March 1818 now on file in the War Department and drew a Pension of eight dollars per month under said Act of 18 March 1818.
She further declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel French on the twenty seventh day of August in the year one thousand seven hundred & ninety five that her husband the aforesaid Nathaniel French died on the eleventh

_____ day of March 1844. that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January one thousand eight hundred, viz, at the time above stated.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first herein before written, in Open Court Before J. Leland judge
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Norfolk.
I, Jonathan H. Cobb, Register, of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that Sherman Leland Esquire is judge of the Court aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified and that his signature above made is genuine & true.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this sixteenth day of October A.D. 1848.
Jonathan H. Cobb,

Rev
1408
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 1408
Joanna French Widow Nathaniel French Nat. Rev. War
Act: July 29, 1848
Index: Vol. A Page 203
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Nath. French
FRENCH, NATHANIEL (CONT, MASS) W-1408

BY THE HONOURABLE MAJOR-GENERAL KNOX,
Commanding the AMERICAN FORCES on Hudson's River.
Nathaniel French Mahaffy in the Massachusetts Artillery _____ Regiment, being enlisted for Three Years, is hereby honourably DISCHARGED from the Service of the United States.
Given in the State of New-York, the Thirty first Day of December
1783.
By the General's Command,
William M c Lean
REGISTERED in the Books of the Regiment,
D. M c Lean Adjut

Inventory under the Act of March 1823 dated 20 April 1823 -
4 acres brush land $20 2 1/2 acres grass land 20 Furniture & house wares 2 Cows 26 House & kitchen furniture and farming utensils $26.50  $86.50
5 Apl.
Accounts for the clearance of his property as follows. The 6 acres of land with a small house and barn sold for $150 & the 10 acres of brush pasture land sold for $50 in January 1823 to Elisha White Esq. and the proceeds thereof appropriated to the payment in part of a debt due to Joseph Downs and James Turner
Restored 10 July 1823 33 33
James Ware Esq.
Wrentham Mass
Massachusetts
Nathaniel French, widow 1781 - 1 year & 9 months -
Aged 62 years by occupation a farmer unable to work on account of bad waste. Wife age 51 years, one daughter aged 14 years and two daughters aged 12 years.
Inventory dated 18 July 1820.
Real property viz 6 Acres of family land with a small house and barn very old valued at $150. 10 Acres of brush pasture land that will bring pasture one cow } 50. 10 Acres of brush land } 0. Personal Property
2 Cows, 2 Carts, 12 Chains, breaking chain iron ware, farming utensils, valued in all at 46.50 5 Apr Total $246.50
He is indebted to the following persons viz to Daniel Tucker on notes - $60. " Simon Tucker " " 56. " Joseph Downs " " 80. " George Downs " " 40. and a number of small debts } $236. which he cannot ascertain

J. Edward Esq. Pension Agt. Washington

Navy Yard Boston 9 th April 1849.
Sir
At the request of Mrs French, I forward her applications for a pension. This is the second set of papers she has had prepared and forwarded to your office, the first, you informed me, were not received. I beg your earliest possible attention to her case as she is poor and much in need of the pension.
Please forward to me any communication you may have for Mrs French.
Very respectfully Your Ob. Servt
W. DOWELL
Capt. U.S.N.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Pension Agent Washington D.C.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston April 16 1849
I hereby Certify, That on the eighth day of March eighteen hundred and forty six, Thomas French of Canton, was appointed for the term of seven years a Justice of the Peace an Innomine , for all the Counties;
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W. H. Chapman
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Jas. L. Edwards Esq re Com n of Pensions.

Sir,
Merchants Bank Boston 21 Oct 1848
Enclosed is the Declaration of Joanna French, accompanied with evidence, to obtain a Pension under the Act 29 July 1848.
If the papers enclosed are insufficient, I will thank you to inform me how they should be amended; and if sufficient to send the Pension Certificate to my care.
Very Respectfully Your obed t Servt G. L. Bulfinch
Jas. L. Edwards Esq re Comm r of Pensions.

Dear Mr. [?]
17 October 1835. Pension office. Nathan French Map 100 Copy of discharge sent to P.W. at Oct 17. 1835.
20 Nathan French

Brighton W. Oct. 13 3
Frederick
Hon ble Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington

Canton Sept th Feb 23. 1835
The Legislature of Massachusetts have passed a resolve giving to the soldiers of the Revolution, who served two and a half years at one enlistment, a bounty of $50 00 . The subscriber is a Pensioner of the U.S. and that he may be enabled to receive this bounty of his State, it is necessary that he should produce a certified copy of his discharge now in your Pensions Office at Washington. Sir, if you would be so kind as to furnish him with the aforesaid copy, you will confer a favor on your most ob st
Sirv nt
Nathaniel French
Hon ble Lewis Cass Secretary of War
Washington

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston October 21 st 1848
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Thomas French was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W m S. Smith Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Canton Sept. 2nd. 1848.
I hereby certify, that it appears from the Record of Marriages, Solemnized by the Rev. Zachariah Howland, late Minister of the Gospel in this Town, which Record is now in my possession, that, on the 27th day of August A.D. 1795, Mr. Nathaniel French of Boston, and Miss Joanna Downes of this Town, were joined in Marriage by him.
Benjamin Hunkton, Minister of the Gospel in Canton.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk, ss. Sept. 4. 1848.
Then personally appeared the above named Benjamin Hunkton and made oath that the above certificate by him subscribed is true.
Before me
Thomas French Justice of the Peace

State of Massachusetts Norfolk County, ss.
We it know, That before me Thomas French a justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared Leonard Cavell a respectable and disinterested person, and whose statements are entitled to full credit and made oath in due form of law, That he is well acquainted with Joanna French, That she is now living in his immediate neigh- borhood, That she is still the widow of Nathaniel French who was a pensioner of the United States
Leonard Cavell
Sworn and subscribed this eleventh day of October - 1848
Before me Thomas French Justice of the Peace

Elijah Crane of Canton in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Nathan French of Canton who was in the revo- lutionary war and that his health has been sick for a long time and he continues to be so infirm that not- withstanding he has a very small property I am clearly of opinion that he stands in need of support from his Country
Canton April 3 rd 1818 Elijah Crane
Canton Ap d 3 rd 1818
I John Downes of the U.S. Navy am well acquainted with Mr. Nath l French of Canton who served during the Revolutionary War in the Continental service and do believe that he really stands in need of that assistance from his Country which it has so sadly extended to those revolutionary patriots who are in indigence.
J. Downes

No
Joanna French widow of Nathaniel Mass.
Act 29 July 1848,
Married 1795 Husband died 1844
Aged 2 years, Matros. $100. per annum for 4 March 1848,
Commodore Joseph Smith, Present.
1

- Commonwealth of Massachusetts. County of Norfolk ss.
On this third day of April in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and forty nine Personally appeared before Theophilus D. Leland Esquire Judge of the Court of Probate, in and for said County, Joanna French a resident of Canton in said County of Norfolk aged seventy seven years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Provisions made by the Act of Congress passed July 29. 1848; that she is the widow of Nathaniel French, who was a Private in the Army of the Rev- olution, who and served in that capacity as she verily believes for the period of three years, and that for his said service he received a Pension from the United States under the Act of Congress of the 18 th of March 1818 and for a particular account of his service and the Officers under whom he

scribed she respectfully refers to the Declaration made by him at the time the Pension was granted - She further declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel French on the twenty seventh day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety five, that her husband the aforesaid Nathaniel French, died on the
Eleventh day of March in the year one thousand eight hun- dred and forty four; that her marriage to the said Nathaniel French did not take place until after he left the service but before the year one thousand eight hundred, to wit, at the time above mentioned and that she has remained a widow ever since the decease of her said husband.
Josiah French
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written in open court then in session Before S. Leland judge of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Norfolk.
I Jonathan H. Cobb Registrar of the Court of Probate for the County of Norfolk hereby certify that Sherman Leland is Judge of Probate for said County of Norfolk & that his signature on this paper is genuine & true.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said County, Probate this third day of April A.D. 1849.
Jonathan H. Cobb.

Copy Schedule of Nathaniel French 3. (2 nd )
1483

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
NORFOLK, ss.—CIRCUIT COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, SPECIAL SESSION, JULY 17, 1820.
On this Eighteenth day of July 1820 personally appeared, in open Court, being a Court of Record for said County, proceeding according to the course of the Common Law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a Record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Nathaniel French aged fifty nine years, resident in Easton in said County, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: I enlisted into Capt. Burbanks company in March 1781. Col. John Orms Regiment of Artillery and there served until December 1783 as my discharge in Secretarys Office will show, my Certificate is dated April 3. 1818 No. 9083
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Nathaniel French
Sworn to and declared, on the A. D. 1820 before
18th day of July
Jairus Ware Judge of C.C. Com. Pleas for So Circuit.
I, Horatio Townsend Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule hereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is two hundred and sixty six dollars and fifty cents. The debts are not considered.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twenty fourth day of July 1820.
Horatio Townsend Clerk.

A Schedule of my property both real & personal, is as follows (viz.)
  Six acres of sandy land with a small poor house and Barn, very old, valued at  $150.00    Two acres of Bush pasture that will scarcely pasture one Cow  50.00    Four acres of Brush land  20.00    Two Cows  36.00    Two Casks  2.00    Indian Chain  1.50    Cowbell  1.00    Iron Hoe  3.00    Farming utensils  3.00     $266.50  
  Four David Tucker accounts  $50.00    do Simon Tucker on do  56.00    do Joseph Drown, on do  80.00    do George Drown, on do  40.00    And a number of small debts that I cannot ascertain  $236.00  
My family is as follows.
  My wife aged 51 years     Jemima French my daughter aged  14 years    Eliza French do  do 12    Harriet French do  do 12     } Twins  
I am out of health which I lost in the service of my Country, and have not been able to perform a days work at hard labor since I was discharged. I am a farmer by occupation
Nathaniel French